Are online courses certified? - Forum

Hi there,

thank you for posting this interesting question!

You are definitely right in saying that online courses are becoming more and more popular, and the issue of certification is definitely a relevant one. The truth of the matter is that online and distance courses (much like classroom courses) vary tremendously, both in terms of how they are structured and in terms of what you get out of them at the end.

Some of them will definitely result in a qualification, and in many instances this is the same qualification that you would get by attending an open course. This is particularly the case in terms of qualifications approved in the Qualifications and Credit Framework, awarded by bodies such as City and Guilds, NCFE and a whole host of other general and sector-specific institutions. In fact, in some areas such as Education and Training, we are seeing more and more providers offering distance learning almost exclusively.

Other courses will instead be short, non-accredited courses that either don't result in a certificate, or allow you to achieve a Certificate of Completion or Certificate of Achievement that is specific to the training provider. This doesn't necessarily mean that they are less valuable, though - it just means that there is no overarching system that sets standards, which can make it a bit difficult for you and potential employers to evaluate what your knowledge is "worth", so to speak.

The only thing you can really do is to read about individuals courses and contact the training companies to find out about certification, and make your choice based on what you think will benefit you the most. What I always suggest is also looking at job ads in your area of activity to see what (if any) qualifications or certificates employers expect or would like you to have. This can give you a good idea of what will make your CV stand out, and can be a good resource even if you are currently in a job that you like and would like to stay in.

Hope this has given you some useful insights. Do post again if you have more questions!

Best,

Cecilia, The Findcourses.co.uk Team